Supplementary memorandum by Tramtrack
Croydon Ltd (LR 16A)
INTEGRATED TRANSPORT: THE FUTURE OF LIGHT
RAIL AND MODERN TRAMS
Tramtrack Croydon Ltd (TCL) provided oral evidence
at the above Transport Select Committee inquiry on Wednesday 9
March 2005. The following are key points that Tramtrack Croydon
would like to clarify to the committee.
— Tramtrack Croydon Ltd is making an
operating profit and is the only method of public transport in
London not subject to an operating subsidy.[33]
— Despite small build over-runs, transferring
the risk to the private sector means no additional cost will be
borne by the public or taxpayer—PFI worked.
— TCL business case relied on diversion
from buses, car and train. Estimates of passenger numbers varied
between 25 and 28 million based on differing assumptions. TCL
find it astonishing that more bus miles are being run in the Tramlink
area since the contract was let. Many of the increases are on
services, which compete for passengers with Tramlink. Not only
are there plentiful buses on parallel routes but for the first
four years after opening the cash and day pass bus fare rates
were between 20% and 30% cheaper than the tram. These had a direct
effect on achieving our passenger figures forecasts. TfL eventually
harmonised fares in early 2004 causing an immediate increase in
patronage in excess of 2 million (12%) giving total passenger
journeys of more than 22 million per annum. Tramlink's view is
that restructuring the buses as intended would feed in excess
of 3 million additional passengers onto Tramlink giving a total
volume in excess of 25 million. Suggesting that patronage forecasts
could be met.
— TCL welcomes the success of Nottingham's
restructured bus routes. After just one-year patronage on trams
have exceeded expectations.
— Consumers/constituents want integrated
transport not competing transport that is wasteful and expensive.
This should be easily achievable in London's regulated market.
TCL does not understand why TfL subsidises buses to compete with
Tramlink and pays TCL compensation for the abstraction of passengers.
— Trams are the cheapest way
to get high volumes of passengers from A to B for journey numbers
in excess of 3,000 per peak hour.
— Further schemes/extensions will be
efficient and attractive to customers if the right conditions
are met. These are:
— Integrated transport system—integrated
fares, good interchanges, feeder not competing buses, park and
ride, cycle and walkways.
— Predictable and consistent
policy making—no unpredictable risks.
— Transparent and consistent
regulation of transport based on partnership (this has not been
the case for Tramlink Croydon).
— A successful integrated and regulated
transport environment in London/Croydon can be replicated across
the UK
— TCL do not understand why it has
not been consulted at all on Tramlink extensions where the Concessionaire
has extensive experience to share. Extensions can only be achieved
with TCL co-operation.
March 2005
33 to the best knowledge of TCL. Back
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